Drill pipe protector



Sept. 12, 1933.

E. CRAIG El AL DRILL PIPE. PROTECTOR Filed Sept. 19. 19 30 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZIP/44420 CPA/G ,4/70 MLLMMQ COOPE/P Sept. 12, 1933. E. CRAIG ETAL DRILL PIPE PROTECTOR Filed Sept. 19. 1930 general character as that fully described and." claimed in our copending application entitled Patented Sept. 12, 19 33 r sgassz i. d V DRILL PIPE-PROTECTOR... i ,Eewardorai a wil iamo'obtper. r cant;- i v Application September 19,: 1930 .1 Serial o. 483,006 p l l vciaims, (01. 308-4) This invention relates to a devicefor: use in connection with well drilling apparatus, and reiates more particularly tofa protective guide and bearing device for rotary drill pipe of the same Drill pipe protector, April 5, 1930. 7

It is a general object of this invention to pro- Serial No. 441,842, filed vide aprotector of the character mentioned that can be quickly arranged andsetin an operating position on the exterior of a well drilling string,

' or the like.)

It is' another object of this invention :to provide a protector of the character mentioned that materially adds to the trueness of the well bore and assists fill keeping the operating string in vertical alignment. v Another object of the invention is to provi'de a protector of the character 'mentionedthat is efie'ctive in. taking wear betweenthe, operating string and casing'and which minimizes friction between'the operating string and casing; f

It is another objector theinvention to provide aprotector for well drilling parts 'whichhas. a,

plurality of bearing blocks held in a sectional cage orv carrier. 1

7 It is a further objectof the invention to provide a protector for use in connectionwith a well drilling string that may be used to advantage to operate within casingset'inthe well or to operate in the'open well bore below the lower end of the; set casing, and that may be arranged or assembled v for operation of drill pipe, drill pipe couplings,

tool joints; drill collars, or

drilling string. d j V Other objects and features of our'invention will be best and morefully understood from theIfolany other part of a V lowing detailed description of typical preferred companying drawings, in which;

forms and applications of the inventio'mthrough out which description reference is had tov the ac- Fig; 1 is a horizontal detailed sectionalview of a well bore showing a drilling, stringwithin the' casing and showing the devicejprovided by this invention in plan elevationassembled to the drilling string Fig. 2 is an enlarged verticalfdetailed sectional view taken as'indicated by line 22 on Fig. 1 showing the means for positioning the protector on the drilling string. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical or longitudinal detailedfsec tional view taken asf indicated by line S-f-BQon Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view taken asfindicated by line 4-4 on Fig; 1. Fig.5 is a reduced apartvertically or longitudinally on thedrill pipe P, or the like} Thejrings l3 and "1t are connected by circumferentially spaced'ribs j15'. The inner' sides of; the rings have alternating depres extendlongitudinally of thedrill pipe P and are side elevation of the protector illustrating tlie bearing parts'and body construction. Fig. Bis a transverse detailed sectional viewtaken as in di'cated by line '6.-6 on Fig. 5'showing the corrugated formation of the bumpers. Fig. 7 is a hori zontal detailed sectional'view of another form of the invention. Fig. 8' is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the p rotector taken as indicated byline 8-8 o Fig. 7,"a nd Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse detailedsectional viewof aportion of the individualbumpers'jillustrating part of the protector-infsection. 1 v

, he protector of this invention may be used to advantage in connection with many well opera tions and may be employed for inan'y'diff erent usesother thanthat about'to be' des'crilied; For purposeof examplejthroughout thefollowing description, theprotector has been describedasam.

, plied to. a drilling stringoperating within a cas ing. It isto be understood. however, that this particular description isu sed merely for illustra tion and is not to beconstrued as a limitation, but is to be takeninthe light Of "th8 appended claims.

The form of the invention'illustrated in Figs. :1 to 6;inclusive', of the drawings includes, generally, a'cage 10 adapted to be arranged on the object P, whichmay be a drill ,pipe, 'or-thelike; locking means ll'adapted'to position or lock the cage 10' on the pipe 'Pgand bumpers or wearing parts. 12' arranged on the cage for protecting the drill pipe P, casing C or well bore W-."

The cage 10"is provided to carry the-bearing i parts 12" and is in the for'm,p'i a substantially annular assembly. The cage includestwo spaced rings,'an' upper-"ring l3 and a lower ring 14, spaced sionsldand projections '17. The projections {17 3 curved as atfll'i to seat against the'jsurface of the drill pipeJ'The rings are arranged to be seton a drillingstring, drill collar, or other well tool without beingslid over its end. Inor'der to ac coniplish this the cageflis splitlongitudinally at J diametrically opposite points betweenftheribs 15 forming two se'ctibnsA and B. Each section may 1 be integral or built up of separate pieces. As is shown, the I corresponding portions "or "the rings 13 and Mare spaced apart vertically by the ribs 15 and,are designated assec ti'ons Agand B. In practicethe sections A andB are made separate and hinged or pivoted together where they'join at one side of the pipe. These'ctions are provide ed with overlapping parts. A pivot pin l8-isproll() 'when' the sections are in operative position;

vided to engage the two sections through the overlapping parts. The upper and outer edge or corner of the ring 13 is beveled as is the lower and outer edge of the lower ring 14. The rings are thus beveled so that the device will offer little resistance to the fluid in the hole and to allow the device to move freely longitudinally in the well. l

The means 11 provided for locking the cage 10 on the drill pipe is such that the device may be securely locked on the pipe so that it is posi:

tively held against longitudinal and circumfer ential movement. The means 11 operates tohold the free ends of the sectionsA and 13 together and to grip the object'on whichthe cage is set.

The means for locking the free .ends' of the sections A and B is in the form of a wedge means operable to draw the sections together and bring their various parts into tight engagement with the object P. The free ends ofthe sections B and .A are provided with overlapping parts 19 and 20, respectively,- which. engage one another around the drill pipe. Theparts 19 of the section B seat in recesses 21 in thesection A. The parts of the section A seat in recesses 22 in the section B.. Openings '24 are provided in the pin 25 is driven through them the sections are drawnonto the object. The large endofthe pin 25 may be provided with ahead 26 which mayseat against the upper face of the section B.

- The small or lower end of the pin maybe pro-- vided with a cotter pin or k ey 2 flto pre'vent displacement of the pin..- V

Grips or gripping parts 30 are provided on the sections A and B to prevent longitudinal and circumferential movement of the device on the pipe The gripping parts 30 arein the form of pointed or sharpened projections extending inwardly'from the inner sides of the rings 13 and .14. The grippingparts 30 are adapted to bite and grip into the object P topositively prevent the cage from shifting on. the drilling string. 7 In accordance with the preferred form of the invention the gripping parts 30 are formed of hard metal and are set in; circumferentially spaced .sockets in the rings 13 and 14. The parts 30 may i be press fitted, Welded or secured in thesockets in any suitable manner. The sharpened ends of the parts 30 projectradially from theinner faces of the rings to engage the pipe P. When the wedge'pin 25 is driven in the' openings 24, the

gripping parts are forcedinto biting engagement with thedrill pipe P. If desirable, notches, re-

,cesses, or sockets may beformed in the pipe prior to the cage beingarrangedabout it to receive the-pointed ends of the parts 30.

The bearing parts 12 are provided on the cage 10 to protect the drill pipe to guide it in a'well bore, and to protect thedrill pipeand the well casing. jIn-accordance with this form of the invention bearing parts are stationarily mounted on the cage between the rings 13 and 14.] The parts 12 may be formed of rubber or a suitable rubber composition and are preferably integral members. There is. a bearing and protective part 12-mounted on each section A. and B.. The bearing parts 12 maylbe molded directly on the actions A and B or may be in the form of readily re- 'placeable inserts.

inclusive, of the drawings, the bearing parts are formed of two substantially semi-annular rings As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6,

34 and and have alternate longitudinal ,de-

pressions31 and projections 32 on their outer faces. The projections 32 project radially out- 0. portioned soithat their inner sides 33 are spaced from the pipe P when the protector is inthe pipe so that they are free to give or flex to a considerable degree. 1 V V The parts 34 and35' may be detachably mountedpnjthe partsA and B by means of a plurality of Icircumferentially spaced pins 36. The pins 36 are arranged through openings 37 in the bumpersor bearing parts 33 and 34 extending into openings or sockets in the lower ring'14. The upper ends of the pins 36 extend into openings 39 in the ring 13 which may have their upper edges peened over to prevent the pins from becoming" displaced. The lower portions ofthe openings 30 of the lower ring 14 are reduced to present shoulders to retain the pins in position. The reduced portions of the openings 40 are adapted to receive a punch or drift which may be employed to drive out the pins when it is desired.

to remove the parts 33'or 34 for. replacement, etc.

The openings 39 and 40 may be provided through the projections 170i the rings 13 .and 14, and are sections A and B are then arranged about the pipe P and the pin 25 is inserted through the openings in the overlappingparts 19 and 20 to cause the gripping parts 30 tobe forced into. the

pipe.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. '7 to 9, inclusive, of the drawings embodies a plurality of circumferentially spaced replaceable bearings'or wear receiving parts 'm'ounted on a cage 10 The cage 10 employed in this form-of the invention maybe of substantially elusive, of the drawings.

The cage 10 is an integral or unitary st'ruc thesame configuration as the. cage 10 of the form .of the invention illustratedinFigs. 1 to 6, in-

ture'adapted to beslidover an end of a pipe P, I

or'the like. The'cage 10 is an annular structure including vertically spaced rings '13 and 14 connected by vertical or longitudinal ribs 15*.

The rings 13 and 14 are each provided with a,

, tions'j 62 on the inner sidesof the rings and their outersides' present projections 63 on the outer sides of the-rings. lin practice the cake 10" may be proportionedso that it'may be readily slid between the projections 61. r

. The bearing parts are in the natureof bearing or wear receiving parts and are adapted to engage the wall of a wellbore or a casingC to prevent excessive wearing of the casing and the pipe P. The bearing parts 60 may be formed of rubber or a suitable rubber'composition andare mounted on the cage 10 so that they may be easily and quickly 'replacedwhen worn. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention the bearing parts 60 extend between therings 13 and 14 and are removably attached to the cage 10 by pins 64. The pins 64 are arranged in openings or sockets in the enlargements 61 of the rings and may be secured to the cage 10 in the same manner as the-pins 36 of the form of the invention described above. The pins 64 extend through longitudinal openings in the bearing parts 60. The upper ends of the bearing parts 60 engage against the lower side of the ring 13 and the lower ends of the bearing parts engage against the upper side of the rings 14 so 3 that the bearing parts are held against longitudinal movement on the pins 64. r

The bumpers or bearing parts 60 are proportioned sothat they project outwardly beyond the projections 63 of the cage 10 rounded as clearly'illustrated in Figs. 7 and 9 of the drawings. The sides 66 of the parts 60 may be flat and may diverge inwardly toward the pipe P. It is preferred to mount the bear- 40 ing parts 60 so that they are'held against'rotation on the pins 64. In the particularcase illustrated the inner sides 67 of the several parts 60 are shaped to substantially conform to the exterior of the pipe P so that they seat against the pipe 19' and hold-the bearing parts against rotation; However, if desired or found practical, the bearing parts 60 may be proportioned so that their inner sides 67 are spaced short distances from the exterior of the pipe P. In the construction illustrated, where the bearing parts 60 are in engagement with the pipe P when the device is assembled on the pipe, inward thrusts on the bearing parts are transmitted to the pipe P by the bearing parts 60 so that the bearing parts and the pins 64 are not distorted or fractured. It is preferred to proportion the bearing parts 60 so that they are spaced apart around the cage 10% as illustrated in the drawings.

Means is provided for mounting or setting the cage 10 on the pipe P so that it is positively held against movement on the pipe. A plurality of grips or gripping parts 68 are provided to prevent movement of the protector on the pipe when it is in the operating position. The grips 68 are arranged in the inner ends of lateral or radial openings 69 inthe rings 13 and 14 The gripping parts 68 are preferablyformed of hardened or tempered steel and are provided at their inner ends with sharpened points 70 to grip or bite into the pipe P. The, invention provides means for forcing the points 70 of the parts 68 into the pipe P and to retain the gripping parts in their gripping position. Set screws 71 are screw threaded into the openings 69 to engage the outer sides of the gripping parts 68 to force them into effective engagement with the pipe. The screws 71 may The outer projecting'portions of and parts 60 are preferably drill pipe.

be employed to lock the cage lOt on the pipe Pin any suitable position and may be .u'nthreaded' from the opening 69 to releasethegrips 68.when

invention illustrated in Figs..'7. to 9,inclusive, of

the drawings, without modifying the construction.

It is to be noted that both forms of the invention include replaceable resilient bearing parts or bumpers that may be easily and quickly mounted on a rigid cage. 7 j

The cages l0 and-10 are effectively secured on the pipe, so that they are positively held against circumferential and longitudinal movement. The;

cages are such that they may be used for long periods and may be provided with new bumpers or bearing parts whenever itbecomes desirable or necessary. l I

Having described only typical preferred forms of our invention, we do not wish to limit ourselves to the specific details set forth, but wish to re'-- serve to ourselves any changes or variations that may appear to those skilledin the art or fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described our invention, weclaim: 4

' 1. A bearing device for a string of drill pipe, a cage adapted to be arranged on the drill pipe, the cage including two vertically spaced rings, and a of spaced bumpers between the rings and spaced from the rib, the outersidesof the bumpers pro- 7 110 7 spacer rib connecting therings, 'and' a plurality jecting beyond therings and the inner sides of n the bumpers engagingthe drill pipe.

2. A bearing device for a. string of drill 'pipe including, a cage adapted to be arranged on the drill pipe,the cage including two vertically spaced rings, and a spacer rib connecting the rings, and

'a plurality of individual stationary rubberbumpers between the rings, the outer sides of the bumpers projecting beyond the rings andthe inner sides of the bumpers in abutment with-the 3. A device of the character described adapted to be mounted on a drilling string including, a cage adapted to be arranged on'the string ineluding, two spaced rings, and a plurality of ribs the rings, means for holding the cage against movement on the string, said means including hard metal grips on the rings for biting into the string, and a plurality of stationary circumferentially spaced bumpers mounted between the rings spaced between the ribs'andhaving outer curved projections, extending beyond the rings, and

inner faces adjacent the string.

5. A device of the character described adapted to be mounted ona drilling string including, a

cage adapted to be arranged on the string, the

cage including two spaced rings, and ribs connecting the rings means-for holding the cage against movement on the string, a pin. extending between ;.the rings, 1 and a stationary 1 bumper mounted onthe pin. i o r 6. A bearing device forr'tuse on a string of drill pipe including, acage adapted to be arranged on the drill pipe, the cage including two spaced rings, and ribs connecting; the rings, means for holdingthe cage against movement on the pipe, a removable pin extending between the rings, a bumper stationary on the, pin and projecting outwardly beyond the rings, the pin having an endseated in a socket in one ringandextending into an opening through the other ring.

17. A bearing device for use on astring of drill pipe, including, a cageadapted to be arranged on the. drill pipe, the cage including two spaced rings, ribs'c'onnecting the rings, means for holding 

